No Fiction. A Narrative founded on recent and interesting Facts. By the Rev. A Reed. Seventh Edition
Memoirs of Francis Barnett, the Lefevre of "No Fiction;" and a Review of that Work, with Letters and authentic Documents.
[Concluded from last week]
Mr Francis Barnett, the Lefevre of "No Fiction," is not a dextrous book-maker, a happy circumstance for the Rev. Andrew Read. A clear and succinct statement of his case, in the compass of about half of one of his present volumes, would have been read by numbers to whom four times that quantity is a mental labour; and what is still more to the purpose, have conveyed the matter of fact more clearly to their apprehension. We, however, apply this remark to the multitude alone; for the Student of human nature—the Aruspex who likes to inspect the heart of a victim whilst warm and palpitating, will prefer the honest circumlocution of Mr. Barnett, whose Memoirs are a great curiosity, both as descriptive of his own treatment, and the operation of certain tenets upon peculiar organization. In fact, they exhibit a degree of simplicity, originality, and ingeniousness, which are not a whit the less amusing for a slight degree of confusion and bizarrie, especially as they conclusively establish the alleged injuries and social perfidy which have produced them.
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But as quid pro quo is fair play, ample as is the field supplied by the Novel, Mr Barnett occasionally steps out of it in order to show a return of the favour bestowed upon himself. It is not, however, for us to dabble in dirty water, in whatever degree the counter-sprinkling may be merited. We omit allusion, therefore, to a great deal of humble family history, with the included imputation of gross unfilial hardness of heart; but taking into account the utter neglect of Mr Barnett's feelings in the exposure of love matters, we must not entirely omit the history of a singular amour. It would appear that the settlement of young preachers, by eligible marriages, is an affair of special policy on the part of the elders of the tabernacle, one of whom, familiarly recognized by the title of the Old Fox, is peculiarly famous for his ability in this way. A young and reverend personage, under his paternal direction, proposes himself, with immense pliability and sang froid, unto various well-connected and well-proportioned females without success, until he is at length induced to address a monied widow at Petersfield. In the first instance he is refused there also, but under such able direction the attack is renewed, and our young preacher, although not much more than half her age, proceeds to Petersfield in the sequel, and makes his ground good. Unhappily a liver complaint steps in, and matrimonial considerations must be deferred for the present. What is to be done—a widow with 6,000l. a-year in her own power, with a liver complaint, is no every day affair; she is therefore induced to come to town for advice, and that she may take it unmolested, is snuggly accommodated with lodgings at Stamford-hill, and almost exclusively attended by the Rev. Andrew Reed and his sage Adviser. Death, however, is inexorable, and the moral of the tale is to be found in the following document, extracted from the Registry of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
In the last Will of Mary Cave, late of the Borough of Petersfield, Hants, widow, deceased. Dated 7th February, 1814, is as follows:—
“I give to the aforesaid Joseph Hardcastle, esquire, the present Treasurer, or to any other Treasurer for the time being, of a certain Society called, ‘The Village Itinerancy, or the Evangelical Association for the Propagation of the Gospel,” two thousand pounds of lawful money of Great Britain, free of all duties or taxes whatsoever, in trust, to be applied to the uses of the said Society.
“And further to pay to the Rev. Andrew Reed, of Chiswell-street, London, one thousand pounds of like lawful money.
“Proved at London, 10th of March, 1814, before the worshipful Samuel Pearce, Parson, Doctor of Laws and Surrogate, by the oaths of Joseph Hardcastle, Esq. and Benjamin Neale, two of the Executors to whom Administration was granted, being first sworn duly to administer. Power reserved to John Calvert, the other Executor.
“NATH. GATLING,
“R. C. CUSNELL, Deputy Registrars.”
“E. JOINER,
